Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 06 June 1902

Gamblers Caught At Bolton

Wm. Askew, Frederick Owen, George Cecil Law, Samuel North, Joseph Dewell, Edward Smith. Thomas Earnshaw, Samuel Moor, John Win. Bailey, Edwin Thompson ,and Albert Kirkham, all pit-hands, of Bolton-on-Dearne, were summoned for gambling with coins at Bolton-on-Dearne on the 26th May.

P.-c. Blenkinsop stated that on Sunday afternoon, the 25th May, he was on duty in plain clothes in company with P.c. Lockwood at Bolton and they secreted themselves near Lowfield Lane. At about 5-15 p.m. all the defendants came near to where witness was concealed, and commenced to play at a game called “tossing.” They watched them from a distance of 100 yards. They got with 20 yards of the defendants, and watched them for 10 minutes and saw money thrown into the air and change hands as the results of the betting. They made for them, and took their names and addresses and told them that they would be reported. They said it was a fair catch.

P.-c. Lockwood corroborated—Askew, Owen, Law, North, Dewell, Smith, and Earnshaw were fined 10s. and 7s. 6d. costs, and the rest of the defendants were fined 2s. 6d., and the costs. 7s. 6d.